Another little expedition set sail from France, to help General Humbert, consisting of one ship of the line, eight frigates, a schooner, and a brig. It was met by Sir John Borlase Warren, who was cruising, with seven sail of the line, off Lough Swilly. They engaged, and, after an action of three hours and forty minutes' duration, the French three-decker, and three of the frigates, hauled down their colours, and of the five frigates that then escaped, three were subsequently captured. The rebellion in Ireland was now virtually at an end, the rebels were dispersed, and their leaders accounted for. Still, this result was not arrived at without a fearful expenditure of treasure and life; it being estimated that not less than 30,000 lives had been sacrificed. £1,000,000 was voted by Parliament, as compensation for injury done to the Loyalists in Ireland, and that sum was reckoned as only being a third of their actual losses. On the 1st August of this year was fought the battle of the Nile; the news of which, however, did not reach the Admiralty until the 2nd October, and great were the rejoicings, and illuminations, on the 3rd. With this welcome news, the chronicle of the year may well end. * * * * * As far as we can judge, from the lights of history which are left to us, nothing was going particularly wrong with the national arms, or the national prosperity, considering we were at war, but the powers, that were, thought things might possibly go better, if they had a General Fast, so, on the 1st February, 1799, a proclamation was issued:-- "George R.--We, taking into Our most serious consideration the just and necessary War, in which We are engaged, for the Maintenance of the Independence of Our Crown, for the Defence and Protection of the Commerce, and of the Rights and Liberties, Civil and Religious, of Our Subjects, and putting Our trust in Almighty God, that He will graciously bless Our Arms, both by Sea and Land, have resolved, and do, by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council, hereby command that a Publick Fast and Humiliation be observed throughout that part of Our Kingdom of _Great Britain_ called _England_, Our Dominion of _Wales_, and _Town of Berwick upon Tweed_, on _Wednesday_, the Twenty-seventh Day of this instant _February_; that so both We and Our People may humble Ourselves before Almighty God, in order to obtain Pardon of Our Sins; and may, in the most devout and solemn Manner, send up Our Prayers and Supplications to the Divine Majesty, for averting those Heavy Judgments which Our manifold Sins and Provocations have most justly deserved; and imploring His Blessing and Assistance on Our Arms, and for restoring and perpetuating Peace, Safety and Prosperity, to Us and Our Kingdoms," &c. &c. There were special forms of prayer for morning, communion, and evening services.